Amazing Stories from the University of Alaska Anchorage

Ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Engineering & Industry Building

September 14, 2013

Outside the Student Union and Wells Fargo Sports Complex, Friday, Sept. 13, UAA School of Engineering staff, faculty and students, as well as university and state leaders, gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the SOE’s new Engineering & Industry Building scheduled to open fall 2015. Despite the morning rain, the upbeat crowd enjoyed refreshments and listening to remarks from UAA Chancellor Tom Case, SOE Dean Tien Chien Jen, state leaders and students.

SOE ceremonial groundbreaking.

Alaska is in great need of well-prepared, homegrown engineering professionals. The Alaska Department of Labor projects that the state will need 120 engineering professionals annually through 2018, with 50 to fill new positions and 70 more to replace retirees or engineers leaving the state.

UAA has witnessed tremendous growth in enrollment through the years. Enrollment in the School Of Engineering’s 17 degree and certificate programs has more than quadrupled since 2000.

The new 81,500 square-foot facility is designed to help satisfy the state’s demand for homegrown engineers.

The project will house labs for communications, electrical engineering, fluids, heat and mass transfer, foundation engineering, transportation and highway engineering and land surveying, in addition to machine and wood shops, a service yard and conferencing/collaborative learning areas.

The new space will also offer opportunities for exhibits illustrating the role of engineering as a driving force in Alaska’s economy through research-based solutions to practical problems, and active and passive displays of energy use, seismic activity, movement and stress.

The university is working hand-in-hand with industry, government and community entities to maintain and develop our engineering and industry programs and support workforce development in high-demand careers.